PA Civics Educator Forum
A professional development conference on civics for Pennsylvania educators.
Democracy depends on citizens’ understanding of our nation’s history, founding principles, and their civic rights and responsibilities. Unfortunately, K-12 educators too often have inconsistent or no access to innovative teaching methods, experiential learning activities, and content-specific training that fosters informed, engaged citizens. The PA Civics Educator Forum aims to address this gap by convening teachers for a series of day-long, high-quality professional development events for educators in civics.
The first forum will take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on September 27th, 2024. It is free for educators to attend and all teachers will receive Act 48 credits.
A regional model for professional development
The inaugural PA Civics Educator Forum in Philadelphia will pilot with 50-60 teachers in attendance. It will be followed by additional forums in western and central Pennsylvania in the spring semester of 2025. This model will allow teachers within a region to network with other educators who can share best practices and ideas.
A focus on civics content for civics educators at all levels
Forum sessions will feature PA Civics coalition partners with a wide range of expertise in civics education. Sessions will focus on the three pillars of a quality civic education: knowledge, skills, and action. There will be tracks for primary and secondary grade levels. We anticipate publishing the session list and descriptions in mid-August.
The forum will provide attendees with resources they can bring back to their schools to use immediately.
We invite you to join this effort by making a tax-deductible donation to support the PA Civics Educator Forum. Your support will cover location rental fees, promotion, scholarships for attendees, and material production.
Contact Justin Villere (jvillere@seventy.org) with any questions or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. Checks can be made payable to PA Civics’ lead partner and fiscal sponsor, Committee of Seventy, and mailed to 123 South Broad Street, Suite 2830, Philadelphia, PA 19109.